Winding-indicator for clocks and the like.



D J MITCHELL.

WINDING INDICATOR FOR CLOCKS AM) THE LIKE,

APPLICATION FILD APR. 10. 19:5. RENEWED DEC 2!,i915.

1 ,1 89,607. iufvnfvd July 1916.

2 SHEkTS-SHEET L IDJMITCHELL D. J. MITCHELL.

WINDlNG INDICATOR FOR CLOCKS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10, ms. RENEWED 05c. 27. IBYS.

Patented July 4, i916.

2 SHEETSSHE[T 2" 341W DJ MITCHELL UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL J. MITCHELL, OF ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.

WINDING-INDICATOR FOR CLOCKS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 10, 1915, Serial No. 20,538. Renewed December 27, 1915.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DANIEL J. MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albuquerque, in the county of Bernalillo and State of New Mexico, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Winding- Indicators for Clocks and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in winding indicators for clocks and the like; and it is an object of my invention to provide a novel and improved device of this general character coacting with the winding shaft of the operating spring and serving to give indication, before the spring runs down, that said spring should be rewound.

It is also an object of my invention to provide two rotatably supported members, one of said members being operatively engaged with the winding shaft of the operatlng spring and the second of said members being capable of a limited independent rotation, both of said members being provided with coacting means whereby they may be caused to operate in unison.

It is also an object of my invention to provide a device of this general character comprising two relatively movable members mounted for rotation upon the hour sleeve of a clock or the like, one of said members being positively driven and the second of said members being capable of limited axial rotation by gravity.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved winding indicator for clocks and the like whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood. I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a. view in front elevation of a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 4,1916.

Serial No. 68,918.

clock constructed iii accordance with an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical'sectional view of the clock as disclosed in Fig. 1 and illustrating in detail the connec tion between the winding shaft and a rotatable member herein embodied; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the clock works illustrating the features of my invention as disclosed in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is an elevational view, detached, of the second rotatable or indicating member as herein included.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes the winding shaft of a conventional main spring of clock or the like, and 2 denotes an hour sleeve operatively engaged with the shaft 1 in a well known way.

Suitably mounted upon the sleeve 2 and capable of freely rotating therearound is a wheel 3 of predetermined diameter and having its toothed periphery 4 in mesh with a pinion 5 fixed to the shaft 1. The ratio of the wheel 3 and pinion 5 is determined as is believed to be clearly apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains, by the duration of time the clock or the like is adapted to run under the infiu ence of the main spring. The wheel 3 has produced therein an arcuate slot 6 p referably in excess of a semi-circle and extending substantially entirely around the wheel and concentric to its axis and extending within said slot is a lug or extension 7 projecting from the rear face of the disk 8 also loosely mounted upon the hour sleeve 2 and provided on its opposite face with an indication 9 adapted to be exposed through the opening 10 produced in the dial ll of the clock. The outer surface of the disk 8. except the portion provided with the indication 9, is preferably of the same color as the outer face of the dial while the portion 12 of the disk adapted to be exposed through the opening 10 when the indication 9 is in rcgister there with is of a difi'ering color, as for instance rod, so that attention will be more readily directed to the exposed indication.

At a predetermined point on its periphery, the disk 8 is provided with a substantially radial extension 14 which s adapted to coact with the suitably positioned stops 15 whereby the extent of rotation of the disk 8 in either direction may be properly limited, said stops being herein disclosed as projecting from an adjacent side or plate of the elockworks.

The. extension It is preferably weighted so that the disk8 maybe caused to automatically rotate a limited extent independently of the wheel 3 after the extension 1% has been moved past a vertical center whereby it will be perceived that the indication 9 will be brought into register with the opening 10 at a predetermined time in advance of the time when the main spring will be entirely run down so that an indication of a sutlicient period will be afforded in which to rewind the spring without the clock or thelike'stopping'. It will also be observed that the lug or extension '7 is so positioned within the slot 6 as to permit rotation of the wheel in either direction to a degree equal to the extent of said slot before the diskS is caused to move or rotate under the influence of said wheel 3.

When the main spring of the clock is wound, the wheel 3 is caused to rotate and an end of the slot 6 therein will engage the lug or extension 7 on the disk 8 before the winding operation is completed and carry the extension 1% beyond a. vertical center when said disk will rotate by gravity until said extension ltco ntacts with a stop 15. As the spring runs down the operation is reversed and on such reverse movement of the disk 8 the indication 9 is exposed through the opening 10.

From Lne foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a winding indicator for clocks and the like constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that.

my invention isesnsceptible of some change and modification without material depai ture from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

1; In combination with the winding shaft of a clock mechanism. two relatively movable membcrs rotatable about a common axis, one of said'members being opcrativcly eiigaged \\'ith the winding shaft, the second of said members being provided with an indication, and coacting means carried by said members whereby the same may be caused to rotate in unison and in the same general direction.

In combination with the winding shaft of a clock mechanism. two relatively movable members rotatable about a common axis, one of said members being operatively engaged with the winding shaft, the second of said members being provided with an indication, coacting means carried by said members whereby the same may be caused to rotate in unison and in the same general direction. and means for limiting the move ment of the second named member in either direction.

3. In combination with the winding shaft of a clock mechanism, two relatively movable members rotatable about a common axis, one of said members being operatively engaged with the. winding shaft, the second of said members being provided with an indication, and coacting means carried by said members whereby the san'ie may be caused to rotate in unison and in the same general direction, said second named member. being provided with a weighted mass whereby the same mayautomatically rotate independently of the first named member.

4. In combination with the winding shaft and the hour sleeve of a clock mechanism,

two relatively movable members rotatably supported by the hour sleeve, one of said members being operatively engaged with the winding shaft, the second of said members being provided with an indication, and

reacting means carried by said members whereby the same may be caused to rotate' axis, one of said members being operatively engaged with the winding shaft, the second of said members being provided with an inmembers whereby the same may be caused to rotate in unison and in the same general direction, said second named member being provided with a weighted extension, and means adapted to eoact with said extension for limiting the movement of the second named member in either direction.

(i. In combination with the winding shaft of a clock mechanism,.two relatively movable members rotatable about a common axis, one of said members being operatively engaged with the winding shaft and provided with an arcnate slot, the second of said members being provided with an indication, and an extension carried by said second member extending through the slot of the first named member whereby said members may be caused to rotatein unison and in the same general. direction.

7. In combination with the winding shaft of a clock mechanism, two relatively movable members rotatable about a common axis, one of said members being opcratively dication, coaeting means carried by saidond member extending through the slot of the first named member whereby said mem bers may be caused to rotate in unison and in the same general direction, said second member being provided with a Weighted mass whereby the same may rotate inde 10 pendently of the first named member. I In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL J. MITCHELL.

Witnesses:

T. L. MCSPADDEN, A. F. BROWNE. 

